Cooper

In the 18th century, coopers were indispensable craftsmen, their skill in creating wooden barrels, casks, and other staved containers being vital to nearly every aspect of daily life and commerce. Their craft involved a deep understanding of wood, particularly oak, which they carefully selected, split, and shaped into individual staves. These staves, expertly tapered and angled, were then meticulously fitted together, heated to become pliable, and bound with iron or wooden hoops to form robust, often watertight, vessels. The importance of coopers was immense; their barrels were the standard for storing and transporting a vast array of goods, from essential foodstuffs like grain, flour, and salted fish to liquids such as water, wine, beer, and spirits, as well as tobacco, gunpowder, and whale oil. They enabled global trade, sustained long sea voyages, and supported industries from brewing to whaling. Whether "tight coopers" crafting leak-proof vessels for liquids or "slack coopers" making containers for dry goods, their precision and artistry ensured the preservation and mobility of commodities, making them crucial pillars of the economy and indispensable to both household and commercial endeavors.